PEDIATRIC FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION

Course overview

MOST INDIVIDUALS HAVE BOWEL MOVEMENTS AT REGULAR INTERVALS, AND ALTHOUGH THE FREQUENCY VARIES FROM PERSON TO PERSON, STOOLS SHOULD PASS WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT STRAINING OR DISCOMFORT. FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION IS A TERM USED TO DESCRIBE A CONDITION IN WHICH PATIENTS HAVE HARD, INFREQUENT BOWEL MOVEMENTS THAT ARE OFTEN DIFFICULT OR PAINFUL TO PASS. FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION DOES NOT RESULT FROM A CLEARLY IDENTIFIABLE ANATOMIC ABNORMALITY OR DISEASE PROCESS AND IS A DIAGNOSIS OF EXCLUSION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS FUNCTIONAL CONSTIPATION IN CHILDREN AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE CARE OF AFFECTED CHILDREN.